[E]At a b[A]ar down in [F#7]Dallas an [Bm]old man c[A]himed [Bm]in,
And I t[Bm7-5]hought he was[E7-9] out of[Fdim] his h[A]ead. [E][Cm7-5][E7]
[E]Just b[A]eing a y[F#7]oung man I j[Bm]ust laughed [A]it [Bm]off
When I he[D9]ard w[A]hat t[E]hat[Bm7-5] old [E7/6]man h[E7]ad sa[A]id.
[E]He [Cm7-5]said I[E7]'ll n[A]ever ag[F#7]ain turn the [Bm]young lad[A]ies h[Bm]eads,
Or[Bm7-5] go running [E7-9]off in [Fdim]- to the w[A]ind.[E][Cm7-5]
I[E7]'m th[A]ree quarters [F#7]home from the s[Bm]tart to t[A]he e[Bm]nd.
And I w[D9]ish [A]I [E]was [Bm7-5]eight - [E7/6]teen [E7]a - g[A]ain.
Refrain:
I [A]wish I was [F#7]eighteen a[Bm]gain, and go[D9]ing where[Bm7-5] I've [E7/6] nev -[E7] er b[A]een.
But o[A]ld folks and [F#7]old oaks standing t[D9]all[Bm7-5] just [Gdim] pre - te[D]nd.
I w[D9]ish [A]I [E]was [Bm7-5] eigh -[E7/6] teen [E7]a - ga[A]in.
[E]Now t[A]ime turns the p[F#7]ages, and oh, l[Bm]ife goes [A]so f[Bm]ast.
The ye[D9]ars turn the [Bm7-5]black [E7-9]hair [Fdim]all gr[A]ey.[E][Cm7-5][E7]
[E]I ta[A]lked to some y[F#7]oung folks -- hey they [Bm]don't und[A]ers[Bm]tand
The wo[D9]rds t[A]his o[E]ld [Bm7-5] man's [E7/6]got [E7]to s[A]ay.
I [A]wish I was [F#7]eighteen ag[Bm]ain, and g[D9]oing where[Bm7-5] I've [E7/6] nev - [E7]er b[A]een.
But o[A]ld folks and [F#7]old oaks standing t[D9]all[Bm7-5] just [Gdim] pre - te[D]nd.
I w[D9]ish [A]I [E]was [Bm7-5] eigh -[E7/6] teen [E7]a - ga[A]in.
Instrumental Interlunde:
| A | F#7 | D9 Bm7-5 Gdim | D |
Lord I w[D9]ish [A]I w[E]as [Bm7-5] eigh - [E7/6]teen [E7]a - g[A]ain
And I t[Bm7-5]hought he was[E7-9] out of[Fdim] his h[A]ead. [E][Cm7-5][E7]
[E]Just b[A]eing a y[F#7]oung man I j[Bm]ust laughed [A]it [Bm]off
When I he[D9]ard w[A]hat t[E]hat[Bm7-5] old [E7/6]man h[E7]ad sa[A]id.
[E]He [Cm7-5]said I[E7]'ll n[A]ever ag[F#7]ain turn the [Bm]young lad[A]ies h[Bm]eads,
Or[Bm7-5] go running [E7-9]off in [Fdim]- to the w[A]ind.[E][Cm7-5]
I[E7]'m th[A]ree quarters [F#7]home from the s[Bm]tart to t[A]he e[Bm]nd.
And I w[D9]ish [A]I [E]was [Bm7-5]eight - [E7/6]teen [E7]a - g[A]ain.
Refrain:
I [A]wish I was [F#7]eighteen a[Bm]gain, and go[D9]ing where[Bm7-5] I've [E7/6] nev -[E7] er b[A]een.
But o[A]ld folks and [F#7]old oaks standing t[D9]all[Bm7-5] just [Gdim] pre - te[D]nd.
I w[D9]ish [A]I [E]was [Bm7-5] eigh -[E7/6] teen [E7]a - ga[A]in.
[E]Now t[A]ime turns the p[F#7]ages, and oh, l[Bm]ife goes [A]so f[Bm]ast.
The ye[D9]ars turn the [Bm7-5]black [E7-9]hair [Fdim]all gr[A]ey.[E][Cm7-5][E7]
[E]I ta[A]lked to some y[F#7]oung folks -- hey they [Bm]don't und[A]ers[Bm]tand
The wo[D9]rds t[A]his o[E]ld [Bm7-5] man's [E7/6]got [E7]to s[A]ay.
I [A]wish I was [F#7]eighteen ag[Bm]ain, and g[D9]oing where[Bm7-5] I've [E7/6] nev - [E7]er b[A]een.
But o[A]ld folks and [F#7]old oaks standing t[D9]all[Bm7-5] just [Gdim] pre - te[D]nd.
I w[D9]ish [A]I [E]was [Bm7-5] eigh -[E7/6] teen [E7]a - ga[A]in.
Instrumental Interlunde:
| A | F#7 | D9 Bm7-5 Gdim | D |
Lord I w[D9]ish [A]I w[E]as [Bm7-5] eigh - [E7/6]teen [E7]a - g[A]ain
